Contact unit for typewriter-key punches



1929. w. w. LASKER 1,723,242

CONTACT UNIT FOR TYPEWRITER KEY PUNCHES Filed March 1925 2 Sheets-Sheetl gwuentw William M 146(6).

AiIgQG; 1929; w. w. .LASKER 1,723,242

CONTACT UNIT FOR TYPEWRITER KEY PUNCHES Filed March 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet2 gin mante 14/17/7422; If ZdfiAfE/Z Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

-WILLIAI W. LASIKEB, O1 BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, BY IESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, T REMINGTON BAND INC., 0] NEW YORK, N. Y.. A CORPORATION 01DELAWARE.

CONTACT UNIT FOR TYPEWBITER-KEY PUNGHES.

Application filed March 3 1925. Serial 1T0. 12,981.

This invention relates to the punching of cards for use in adding,tabulating, accounting or other machines wherein the mechanism is causedto function in a predeter- 5 mined manner by an arrangement ofperforations in the card, and more particularly relates to a mechanismwhereby the operation of a typewriter in the compilation of statisticsor other data simultaneously perforates a card in a manner representingthe item or data :transcribed by the typewriter.

Some of the objects of the present invention are to provide anattachment for a typewriter whereby operation of certain of the keys ofsuch typewriter simultaneously causes the actuationlof certaincorresponding card perforating devices; to provide a complete unitarycontact mechanism for selectively controlling a card perforatingpunching mechanism; to provide a selective contact mechanism for apunching mechanism which is operated by the actuation of the keys of atypewriter; to provide a contact unit arranged to be quickly attached toa standard typewriter in operative relation to the keys thereof wherebythe operation of the typewriter automatically controls the 'set-upandoperation of a key punch for perforating data cards; and to rovide otherimprovements as will hereina er appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of acontact mechanism embodyin one form of the present invention attache inoperative position to a typewriter; Fig. 2 represents a section on line2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a diagram of two of the control circuits ofwhich the others are a reduplication.

Referring to the drawings, one form of the present invention is shown asapplied to the electrical control of a punch or card perforatingmechanism 10 by the mechanical operation of a typewriter 11 through themovement of its keys 12 as the typewriter i is operated. While but afragmentary portion of the punching mechanism 10 is shown, because thatper se forms no part of the present invention, it will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art, and also that it 1s of the typewherein a preliminary set-up of the punches is made and thereafter anactuating mechanism causes simultaneous nism the several conductors ofthese circuits are preferably made up in the form of a cable 15 whichextends from the solenoids 13 and source of current 16 to a casing orbox 17 wherein the aforesaid conductors are distributed as will beexplained.

For the purpose of closing the respective clrcuits 14, the casing 17 hasmounted therein a plurality of pairs of contacts 20 and contactors 21,one contact and one contactor being in each circuit so that the bringingtogether of any such pair causes the circuit of that pair to be closedand the corresponding solenoid energized. As the construction andarrangement of these contacts and contactors are all alike, repetitionof description will be avoided by selecting one 'pair as an illustrationof all. Thus a contact 20 is carried by a rigid conducting arm 22 whichis supported in depending position from a composite strip 23 ofinsulating material fixed to the casing 17. This strip 23 alsopreferably forms a support for a flexible conducting arm 24 carrylng thecontactor 21, which is disposed in juxtaposed relation to, but normallyspaced from, the contact 20. The arm 22 is connected by a conductor inthe cable 15 which forms a branch of the circuit controlling thesolenoid 13 corresponding to the number or position of the selectedcon.- tact in the series, while the contactor 21 is bonded to a terminalrod or wire 25 which is electrically connected by a wire 26 to a commonreturn conductor in thecable 15 for all of the circuits.

In order to cause the arm 24 to bring its contactor 21 a ainst thecontact 20 to close a circuit, an 0 set or projection 27 is formed onthe arm 24 to extend into the path of movement of a lug or offset 28carried by a key bar or key stem 30. This key bar or key stem 30 ismounted for free sliding movement in the direction of its length bypassing it through the top 31 and bottom 32 of the casing 17 itsprojecting upper end hav inga head 33 fixed thereon to be used as a keyand constituting an abutment for a coil spring 34, the opposite end ofwhich seats upon the top 31. The lower projectin end 0 the bar 30carries a rigid bifurcated finger 35 normally seating against the underface of a key 12 of the typewriter keyboard, this key, of course,corresponding to the circuit which the associated contact and contactorare to close by the pressing down of that key. Normally the spring 34holds the bar 30 in its up position, and returns it to that positionafter the typewriter key has been released following its operation. Thuswhen the key 12 is pressed down in the ordinary typewriting operation itcarries with it the bar 30 and since the stroke is long enough to bringthe offset 28 past the offset 27, the movement causes the flexible arm24 to move towards the rigid arm 22 and bring its contactor 21 againstthe contact 20 to thus close the circuit including solenoid L13.

It is to be remembered that the foregoing description relates to oneunit or one clrcuit control while the complete device is made up of aplurality of such units, each comprising a circuit including a solenoid13, a contact 20 and contactor 21, and a bar 30 with its adjuncts forcausing it to be actuated by a separate typewriter key. There are asmany circuits as there are perforating punches to be set up, and the comlete assembly of units is mounted in the casing 17 with the respectiveactuating bars 30 projecting for operation by the keys 12. As here shownthere are ten units, one to be controlled by each of the number keys ofthe typewriter, and consequently there are ten selectively controlledpins for setting up the punches for the perforating operation. Asheretofore explained, all of the circuits have a common source ofcurrent and a common return conductor, whereby the wiring is materiallysimplified.

For controlling the movement of the erforating machine carriage, thecasing 1 is provided with extra keys, here shown as a carriage space key40, a carriage return key 41, a carriage skip key 42, and a card tripkey 43, which respectively control the-closing of circuits forcontrolling the operation of the perforating machine. Such a machine andits control is shown in Patent No. 1,305,-

557, dated June 3, 1919. It will thus be evident when, for example, thekey for numeral 5 on the typewriter is operated that there Wlll be asimultaneous closing of the circuit which-energizes the solenoid 13 forcontrolling the setting pin 44 which sets up punch 5. As soon as this isset up thepin carria e automatically moves to the next space so t at thenext typewriter key operated will set up a punch in the next adjacentrow and this continues until all the data to be recorded on one card byperforation is set up. Then the card trip key 43 is pressed down and allof the set-up punches perform the perforating operation. Following thisthe carriage return key 41 is pressed down so that the pin carriagereturns to starting position to make a new set-up for the next card. Thepin carriage space and skip are controlled by the pressing down ofeither the key 40 or the key 42.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a card perforating system, the combination of a typewriter, apunch mechanism, electrical means for actuating said punch mechanism, aplurality of electrical circuits for selectively controlling said means,a casing arranged to be connected to said typewriter, contact mechanismin said casing for respectively closing said circuits, means in saidcasing for governing the action of said contact mechanism, and meansextending through saidcasing and operatively connecting said governingmeans and certain of the typewriter keys for selective control of saidcontact mechanism by movement of said certain of the typewriter keys. Y

2; In a card perforating system, the combination of a typewriter, apunch mechanism, electrical means for actuating said punch mechanism toaccomplish plural functions, a plurality of electrical circuits forselectively controlling said means, a casing adapted for attachment onthe'typewriter, respective control means for said circuits disposed insaid casing, means carried by said casing and associated with certain ofthe typewriter keys tooperate certain of said circuit control meanswhereby to accomplish a function of the punch mechanism, and manuallyoperated means in said casing for selective operation of others of saidcircuit control means whereby to accomplish another function of thepunch mechanism.

3. In a card perforating system, the combination of a typewriter; apunch mecha- -nism; electrical means for actuating said punch mechanism;a plurality of electrical circuits for selectively controlling saidmeans a circuit control box comprising a casing adapted for mounting onthe tynewriter, circuit closers for said circuits disposed in saidcasing, and operating members for said circuit closers movable in andthrough the casing; and key engaging extensions on each of saidoperating members.

4. In combination with a typewriter equipped with the usual set oftypewriter keys, a second set of keys, punches, means for selecting saidunches by depression of said second set of eye, and connections betweencorresponding keys of said sets of keys for operating the second set ofkeys by an operation of the first set and permitting an operation of thesecond set independently of an operation of the first set.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the usual setof typewriter keys, a second set of keys, and a mechanical connectionbetween corresponding keys of the two sets of keys for depressing keysof the second set by depression of keys of the first set and forpermitting independent depression of the keys of the second set.

Signed at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,this 19th day of February, 1925.

WILLIAM W. LASKER.

